Multi-power ratchet wrenches

ABSTRACT

A multiple powered ratchet wrench and handle are provided having a main housing and handle, a driven shaft in said housing for rotation, an external drive member on said shaft, a first pinion on said shaft within the housing, a second drive shaft in said housing parallel to said first shaft and carrying a second pinion engaging said first pinion, said first and second pinion being arranged to provide a desired multiplication of power from the second shaft to the first shaft, a second drive pinion on said second shaft, a second handle journaled for rotation about said second shaft and ratchet drive means on said second handle engaging said second driven pinion to rotate said second shaft.

United States Patent [191 Moore 11] 3,828,629 51 Aug. 13, 1974MULTI-POWER RATCHET WRENCHES [75] Inventor: Gerald Moore, Turtle Creek,Pa.

[73] Assignee: Eugene F. Buell, a part interest [22] 1 Filed: May 9,1973 [21] App]. No.: 358,655

Primary Examiner-James L. Jones, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Buell,Blenko & Ziesenheim [5 7] ABSTRACT A multiple powered ratchet wrench andhandle are provided having a main housing and handle, a driven shaft insaid housing for rotation, an external drive member on said shaft, afirst pinion on said shaft within the housing, a second drive shaft insaid housing parallel to said first shaft and carrying a second pinionengaging said first pinion, said first and second pinion being arrangedto provide a desired multiplication of power from the second shaft tothe first shaft, :1 second drive pinion on said second shaft, :1 secondhandle journaled for rotation about said secondshaft and ratchet drivemeans on said second handle engaging said second driven pinion to rotatesaid second shaft.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures [52] US. Cl. 8l/57.3, 81/5739 [51] Int. ClB25b 17/00, B25b 13/46 [58] Field of Search 81/5739, 57.3, 58.1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,520,443 8/1950 Seaquist81/58.1 2,756,792 7/1956 Hirschman 81/573 3,133,462 5/1964 Whipp 8l/57.33,258,999 7/1966 Scheithauer et al 81/573 3,587,364 6/l97l Peyre 81/573924 I? V 23 gxwlllm l4 iil'mllmlm I !lll 12 B This invention relates tomulti-power ratchet wrenches and particularly to a ratchet wrenchdesigned to multiply the power at the work point.

There are many instances in the automotive, aircraft, construction andfarming industries where it is necessary to remove a nut which has beenattached too tightly or has corroded or otherwise is too tight to beremoved with standard ratchet or breaker wrenches. In such instances itis common to place a length of pipe on the wrench handle or to otherwiseextend the handle in order to get additional leverage. Frequently,however, the nut is in a position where it is impossible for one toextend the wrench handle and it is impossible to remove the nut intactand it must be cut or otherwise destroyed in order to remove it. v

I have invented a wrench which solves this problem of removingrecalcitrant nuts, bolts and studs l provide a wrench structure whichmultiplies the effective length of the wrench handle to provide hightorque at the nut.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention I provide a main wrenchhousing and handle, a drive shaft mounted in said handle for rotationand provided with an external drive member, a first driven pinion onsaid shaft, a second drive shaft in said housing parallel to the first,a driving pinion in the housing on said second drive shaft and engagingsaid first drive pinion, said first and second pinons being arranged toprovide the desired amount of multiplication of power from the second tothe first, a second driven pinion on said second shaft, a second handlemovable about said second shaft, ratchet means on said second handleadapted to engage said second driven pinion to rotate it with the secondhandle in a selected direction and selector means on the second handlecontrolling the ratchet means. Preferably the second handle carries asecond housing surrounding the second driven pinion and rotatablerelative to the first housing and handle.

In the foregoing general description of my invention I have set outcertain objects, purposes and advantages of my invention. Other objects,purposes and advantages will be apparent from a consideration of thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partly cut away of a multi-powerratchet wrench according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the wrench of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated a main housing and handle11. A shaft 12 is mounted for rotation in said housing, one end having arectangular drive head 13 for driving standard sockets. A pinion 14 ismounted on shaft 12 within housing 10. A second shaft 15 is journaled atone end in housing 10 and, carries a drive pinion 16 which engagesdriven pinion l4.

Shaft 15 extends through an upstanding collar 17 onthe housing 10 on theside opposite the drive head 13. A second housing 20 and drive handle 21is provided with a depending collar 22 which surrounds shaft 15 and isjournaled on collar 17 with bearing 23. A driven pinion 24 is fixed tothe upper end of shaft 15 and is journaled in housing 20. A ratchetdrive cam 25 is mounted in housing 20 along with direction control 26for changing the position of cam 25 to drive pinion 24 in eitherdirection as selected.

In use a socket of standard form is attached to the drive head 13 andplaced over a nut to be removed or tightened as the case may be. Firsthandle 11 is held immovable and pressure is applied to handle 21. Thiscauses shaft 15 to rotate and to drive pinion 16 which in turn drivespinion 14 and shaft 12. The amount of multiplication of effort appliedto the shaft 12 is dependent upon the tooth ratio of drive gear 16 todriven gear 14.

While I have illustrated and described a presently preferred embodimentof my invention in the foregoing specification it will be understoodthat this invention may be otherwise embodied within the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim: i

1. A multi-power ratchet wrench comprising a main housing and handle, adriven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation, an external drivemember on said shaft adapted to removably receive a socket, a firstpinion fixed on said shaft within said housing, a second drive shaft insaid housing parallel to said first drive shaft, a driving pinion insaid housing on said second drive shaft engaging said first pinion, saidfirst and second pinion being arranged to provide the desired amount ofmultiplication of power to the first from the second, a second drivenpinion on said second shaft, a second handle journaled for rotationabout said second shaft, and ratchet drive means on said second handleselectively engaging the second driven pinion to rotate the second shaftand thereby the first shaft when the second handle is moved relative tothe first handle.

2. A multi-power ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein the seconddriven pinion is surrounded by a second housing on the second handle,said second housing being journaled on the first housing for rotatron.

3. A multi-power ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 2 wherein the firsthousing has an upstanding collar on which the second housing isjournaled for rotation.

4. A multi-power ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein means areprovided on the second housing for shifting said ratchet meansselectively to control direction of rotation of the second pinion.

5. A multi-power wrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two handlesare of substantially equal length.

1. A multi-power ratchet wrench comprising a main housing and handle, adriven shaft mounted in said housing for rotation, an external drivemember on said shaft adapted to removably receive a socket, a firstpinion fixed on said shaft within said housing, a second drive shaft insaid housing parallel to said first drive shaft, a driving pinion insaid housing on said second drive shaft engaging said first pinion, saidfirst and second pinion being arranged to provide the desired amount ofmultiplication of power to the first from the second, a second drivenpinion on said second shaft, a second handle journaled for rotationabout said second shaft, and ratchet drive means on said second handleselectively engaging the second driven pinion to rotate the second shaftand thereby the first shaft when the second handle is moved relative tothe first handle.
 2. A multi-power ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1wherein the second driven pinion is surrounded by a second housing onthe second handle, said second housing being journaled on the firsthousing for rotation.
 3. A multi-power ratchet wrench as claimed inclaim 2 wherein the first housing has an upstanding collar on which thesecond housing is journaled for rotation.
 4. A multi-power ratchetwrench as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided on the secondhousing for shifting said ratchet means selectively to control directionof rotation of the second pinion.
 5. A multi-power wrench as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the two handles are of substantially equal length.